Self-storing structures



April 1964 s. BROOKS ETAL SELF-STORING STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1962 FIG. 2

INVENTORS SANFORD BROOKS JERRY BROOKS JOHN E. L E E Attorn e y April 21, 1964 s. BROOKS ETAL SELF-STORING STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1962 INVENTORS SANFORD BROOKS JE RR Y BROOKS JOHN E. LEE

Attorney United States Patent Ofiice 3,129,676 SELF-STGRING STRUCTURES Sanford Brooks, 226 Maxwell St, Downsview, Ontario,

Canada; Jerry Brooks, 23 Ciaxton Blvd, Toronto, Oiltario, Canada; and John E. Lee, 631 Evans Ave., Toronto 14, Gntario, Canada Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,709 8 Claims. (El. 108-33) This invention relates to improvement in self-storing support structures, for example, desk platform members, repositories for household or personal articles, ironing boards or the like, and particularly to surface mounted self-storing support structures.

One object of this invention is to provide a combination support structure and easing therefor which is very compact and can be mounted in convenient locations with facility; if desired the casing can be attractively finished to complement the decor or can be finished in a manner so that it is not noticeable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination support structure and easing of few component parts, simply arranged and yet of sufficient structural strength to withstand normal usage and further so constructed that as an ironing board or a desk member or a receptacle for articles can be made available for use with a minimum of manipulation and effort.

Still another very important object is to provide a support structure of length and breadth suitable for the purposes for which it is intended.

According to this invention there is provided a rigid casing having an open side and a rigid member hingedly connected to the casing for swinging movement flatwise from a position within the casing through the open side and to an extended position at substantially 90 from the first-mentioned position, a rigid closure member hingedly connected to the casing for swinging movement flatwise on an axis parallel to the swinging axis of the platform member and in the same direction, from a position closing the open side of the casing to an extended position and spaced from the platform member and a linkage connecting the platform member and closure member at points spaced from their hinge axes characterizing the closure member as a lever operable to swing the support structure from its position within the casing to the extended position and reversely.

Another feature of this invention resides in providing a support structure which is foldable into at least two sections fiatwise to one another and a casing adapted to be supported in the vertical which is open at one side to receive the support structure fiatwise and in folded relation, one end of the structure being hingedly connected to the casing in a manner such that it can swing from the folded position for storage to an extended horizontal limit po sition, and a brace extending between the casing and the later-mentioned end of the structure and swingable therewith for supporting the structure as a cantilever from the casing.

Still another feature resides in supporting the foldable section of the support structure from the next inner section upon a transversely extending flange formation carried by the next inner section in a manner such that in the extended position of the foldable section the upper surfaces of the sections are substantially co-planar and providing a link connection between the aforementioned sections and at opposite edges of an extent to fix the ends of the sections in abutment in the fully extended position and to permit the foldable section to swing clear of the forward upper leading edge of the next inner section to preventbinding, this arrangement additionally accommodating a double thickness of pad occurring in the ironing board embodiment.

3,129,676 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 Still another feature resides in using the uppermost surface of the closure member as a repository for items which are useful in the operations being carried out.

These and other objects and features are described in detail in the paragraphs following to be read in conjunction with the sheets of drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the self-storing support structure constructed in accordance with this invention and with the support structure in the fully extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the casing of FIG- URE 1 with the closure member closing the open side thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical mid-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1 with the upper portion of the casing and the outermost portion of the support structure and closure member being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a mid-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3 illustrating a mechanism for swinging and locating the foldable section of the support structure relative to the other;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the link connection between the sections of the support structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5, with the sections arranged in co-planar relation; whereas FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 6 but with the sections in overlying flatwise relation for storage.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the combination support structure and casing therefor is indicated generally at 1% the casing structure at 11, the closure member for the open side of the casing at 12 and the support structure adapted to be stored in the casing at 13.

In the preferred embodiment, the support structure or platform 13 is in two sections, 14 and 15, respectively, which arrangement makes it possible to reduce the length of the casing to keep the dimensions to a minimum, which is a very important consideration.

The casing 11 consists of a panel 16 which is adapted to be placed against a vertical mounting surface and to be secured thereto by suitable fasteners in the well known manner. A keyhole opening indicated at 17 in the wall panel 16 will be useful in fixing the position of the casing a selected distance above the floor.

Upstanding from the bottom wall 16 are side walls 18 and end walls 15! forming with the bottom wall a recess which is adapted to house the support structure 13 for storage and also support the platform in the position shown in FIGURE 1. Of necessity, the casing structure 11 must be rigid and can be made from metal or from other suitable sheet material.

The inner section 14 of the platform 13 is hingedly connected as at 20 to the bottom wall 16 of casing 11. The hinge axis is parallel to the end walls 19 and spaced a substantial distance above the lower end wall 19, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 3 especially.

In FIGURE 4, a transverse cross section of the inner section 14 of platform 13 is shown. Inner section 14 consists of a channel member 14a formed from sheetmetal or the like and provided with longitudinally extending supporting members or struts 21 which may take the form of channel shaped members as well. Likewise, the second section 15 is fabricated from a sheet metal piece into a channel and reinforced longitudinally with struts similar to those indicated at 21.

As will be appreciated from the drawings, the specific embodiment employed to illustrate the invention takes the form of an ironing board structure which is housed within the casing. It will, however, be appreciated that the structure of the ironing board will be applicable to any platform which may have any number of uses in the household, oflice or plant.

snaaeve Hingedly mounted below the platform 13 is the closure member 12 for closing the open side of the casing 11.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, the closure member 12 is supported on a hinge 22 located exteriorily of the lower end wall 19 of the casing 11. The axis of hinge 22 is parallel to the axis of hinge 20 supporting the platform 13 for swinging movement and is located in a vertical plane forwardly of the vertical plane in which the hinge formation 20 is located.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that with the section of the platform 13 folded over flatwise to the section 14, the platform then can be swung through 90 from the generally horizontal position indicated in FIGURE 1 to a vertical position within the receptacle portion 11.

Similarly, the closure member 12 can be moved from the horizontal position of FIGURE 1 to the upright position, closing the open side of the casing 11.

As will best be appreciated from FIGURES 1 and 3 the platform 13 and the closure member 12 are connected by a link formation indicated at 22a at points 23 and 24 respectively, spaced from the hinge 22 and respectively, of the closures 12 and support structure 13.

In FIGURE 4, the link 22a is shown in detail and consists of a U-shaped rod member whose horizontal portion 25 is mounted within a bracket 26 extending transversely of the closure member 12 and whose upper ends are provided with transversely oppositely extending pintles 27, 28, respectively, which are pivotally anchored in sockets 29, 30, respectively, depending below the undersurface of the platform 13 on brackets 31, 32, respectively.

It is to be appreciated from FIGURE 3 that the link 22a has an inclination to the vertical, which inclination is determined by the spacing between the hinges 20, 22, respec tively, and the depth of the walls 19 of the casing 11.

Now turning to the support of the platform 13 from the casing 11, it will be observed in FIGURES 1 and 3 that a brace or strut 30 is provided, the strut 30 having the first portion 31 extending transversely of the panel 16 of casing 11 and secured in an elongated bracket 32 for pivotal movement therein.

At each end of the transverse portion 31 there is an integral depending portion 33 at substantially right angles to the transverse portion, the depending portions 33 being integral with upwardly extending support portions 34 whose upper ends are provided with transversely extending pintles 35 registering within guideways 36 defined by the channel member 14a of platform section 14, the guideways 36 opening inwardly in opposed relation and defining parallel supporting and guiding surfaces.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the pintles 35 register within the guideways 36 in sliding fit and at the horizontal position of platform 13 pintles 35 are adapted to be brought into abutment with the vertical surface formation 70, 71, defined by the brackets 31, 32, respectively, upon which the link 22a is pivotally supported.

In this limit position, the depending portions 33 of the strut 30 abut against the surface of panel 16 of casing 11 and the rod portion 34 is in compression and adapted to take the forces applied to the platform 13, as for example in an ironing or a writing operation.

By virtue of the foregoing arrangement, the platform 13 is rigidly supported as a cantilever in the horizontal position for the carrying out of operations upon it and as well the closure member 12 is supported below platform 13 on the link 22a substantially parallel, the upper surface 37 thereof providing a support surface upon which articles can be placed or, for example, to receive the extended length of articles being ironed so that they will not come into contact with the floor.

Strut 30 pivotally mounted in the bracket 32 is adapted to swing with the platform 13 and closure member 12 from the horizontal limit position to the vertical position for storage and be located entirely within the casing 11.

4 The initial postion for storage is indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 3.

Also in broken outline is the initial position of link 22a by means of which the closure member 12 acting as a lever swings platform 13 from its position within the casing to the extended position and reversely.

Turning now to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings, it is seen that the outer end of the section 14 of platform 13 is provided with a transversely extending flange formation 37a.

The outermost section 15 of platform 13 is connected to the outermost end of inner section 14 on pairs of links indicated at 38, links 38 being pivoted on fasteners 39 having a common axis to inner section 14 and on fasteners 40 having a common axis to the outer section 15.

Outer section 15 is additionally provided with a bracket 41 at each side, the bracket 41 having flanges 42 outwardly spaced from the depending side walls 43 thereof and opening upwardly to define slots 44 into which the ends of the links 38 extend, the fasteners 40 extending between the side walls 43 and flanges 42 and pivotally supporting links 38 thereon.

Links 38 are biased as at 45 which portions are adapted to bear against the bottom portions 46 of bracket 41 to limit the pivotal movement of the section 15 in the overlying fiatwise position as indicated in FIGURE 7 and in the extended position the lower edges 47 of links 38 are adapted to bear upon the bottom portions 46 of brackets 41 with the end walls 48 and 49 of sections 14 and 15 in abutment. Together with the transversely extending flange formation 37a, the linkage arrangement serves to maintain the co-planar disposition of the sections 14 and 15, which for ironing operations, is critical.

The effective length of link 38 is such that the end 48 of section 14 and the end 49 of section 15 are arranged in abutting relation, as best seen in FIGURE 6 when sections 14 and 15 assume the co-planar relationship, and the ends of the sections are adapted to clear as section 15 is moved through the are indicated in FIGURE 7 into the overlying abutting position.

The distance between the pivot fasteners 39, 40, of links 38 is such that a double thickness of pad can be accommodated which pad will normally be used for ironing operations and preferably will be permanently secured to the platform.

In FIGURE 5 a linkage is indicated at 50, which is operable to swing section 15 about its connection to section 14. Linkage 50 consists of a U-shaped bracket 51 pivotally connected as at 52 upon lug 53 depending below the undersurface of section 15 and pivotally connected as at 54 to a first rod element 55 mounted for sliding movement within a depending bracket 56 carried by section 14.

Rod 55 in turn is connected to one end of a lever 57 mounted to swing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of pivot 54 and supported upon a depending lug 58 below the platform section 14. The other end of the lever 57 is pivotally connected to a second rod 59 which in turn is pivotally mounted as at 60 on a lug 61 upstanding from the wall 16 of casing 11.

It will be observed that hinge 20 of the platform section 14 is offset rearwardly and above the pivot 60 of rod 59. Consequently upon movement of platform 13 from the horizontal position of FIGURE 5 to the vertical position shown in broken outline in that FIGURE, the lever 57 will be swung by the rod 59 in a direction to displace rod 55 toward the unsupported end of the platform section 14 which in turn displaces the U-shaped link upwardly to swing section 15 from the aligned position of FIGURE 5 to the overlying fiatwise position of FIGURE 7. This action is progressive during the swinging movement of the platform 13 from the horizontal work position to the vertical storage position.

In reverse, the rod 59 actuates the lever 57 to swing in a direction to displace rod 55 toward the supported end of the platform section 14 which in turndisplaces the U;

shaped link downwardly to swing section 15 from the overlying fiatwise position to the aligned co-planar position of FIGURE 5.

Thus it will be appreciated that. automatic folding and unfolding of the integral sections of platform 13 can be accomplished upon movement imparted to the closure member 12' and platform 13.

In FIGURE 3 of the drawings a spring element 62 is indicated and is anchored as at 63 to the undersurface of the platform section 14 and as at 64 to the panel 16 of casing 11. Hinge 20 of platform section 14 is otfset from the point of connection 64 of spring 62 and thus there will be created an over centre position for spring 62 so that in the horizontal position the spring exerts a force on the under side of the support structure 13 downwardly whereas in the uppermost position the spring 62 will exert a force to urge the platform formation 13 inwardly of the casing towards panel 16.

The closure member 12 and the associated platform 13 therefor cannot be withdrawn from the casing without exerting a force to overcome the tension of the spring which prevents a sudden fall of the components when the closure member is released from the catch 65.

In the horizontal position spring 62 serves to steady the support and urge the strut 30 into engagement with the stop surfaces 70, 71 and against the panel 16 in lower wall 19.

Platform formation 13 and casing 11 of this invention have been illustrated in the form of an ironing board structure and as such will have several advantages. For example, with the arrangement shown the entire upper surface of the platform is free of any obstruction. Moreover, the length of the board or platform available while dependent to some extent on the casing dimension can be increased or decreased by changing the length of the sections 14 and 15 or by altering the width of the sections.

It is possible, of course, in contrast to the strut sup port as at 30 to support platform formation 13 from casing 11 by slotted links 66 extending diagonally upwardly of platform formation 13 in the horizontal position and mounted on fixed pivot members 67, 68, carried by the platform formation 13 and casing 11, respectively.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a combination unit of minimum dimensions can be fabricated to provide a support structure such as an ironing board which can be made available for use with a minimum manipulation and effort or in the alternative provide a writing desk platform or a repository for articles, to be placed in an extremely convenient location. The unit will also be unobtrusive because of its size and the support or platform readily concealed from view when it is not being used.

It will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated whereas it will be possible to make variations or modifications in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a casing having an open side, a platform member comprised of at least a first section which is connected to said casing for swinging movement and a second section hingedly connected to said first section for movement from a position fiatwise in overlying relation to said first section to an extended position in substantially co-planar relation therewith, means defining a stop for said second section in said extended position, said platform member being adapted for swinging movement with said second section arranged in fiatwise overlying relation thereto from a position within said casing, through said open side to an extended position at substantially 90 from said position within said casing, a closure member for the open side of said casing, means connecting said closure member to said casing for swinging movement flatwise on an axis parallel to the swinging axis of said platform member and in the same direction from a position closing the open side of said casing to an extended position and spaced in relation to said platform member, means defining a stop for said closure and platform members in the extended position, said first section including a supporting flange formation at the outer end thereof to seat said second section thereon in the extended position thereof with the ends of said first and second sections in abutting relation, and link means connected between said first and second sections and bridging the juncture thereof at opposite edges, said link means having an effective length exceeding the depth dimensions of said first and second sections, whereby said second section can be swung clear of said first section in moving from a fiatwise overlying position to the co-planar extended position and reversely.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said platform member is provided with a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending groove formations therebeneath, strut means pivotally secured at one end to said casing and having means associated with the other end thereof registering within said longitudinally extending groove formation for sliding movement therealong, stop means located in said groove formation limiting the travel of said strut means when said support structure is located in said extended position and means limiting the displace ment of the opposite end of said strut means with said platform member in an extended position whereby said platform member is supported as a cantilever from said casing.

3. Structure according to claim 1 in which overcentre means are provided for biasing said closure member and platform member, firstly towards the positions in which said closure member closes the open side and said platform member is located within said casing, and secondly, towards the extended position thereof.

4. Structure according to claim 3 in which said overcentre biasing means comprises a coiled spring element connected between said platform member and said casing.

5. In combination, a casing having an open side, a platform member comprised of at least a first section which is connected to said casing for swinging movement and a second section hingedly connected to said first section for movement from a position fiatwise in overlying rela tion to said first section to an extended position in substantially co-planar relation therewith, means defining a stop for said second section in said extended position, said platform member being adapted for swinging movement with said second section arranged in fiatwise overlying relation thereto from a position within said casing, through said open side to an extended position at substantially from said position within said casing, a closure member for the open side of said casing, means connecting said closure member to said casing for swinging movement fiatwise on an axis parallel to the swinging axis of said platform member and in the same direction from a position closing the open side of said casing to an extended position and spaced in relation to said platform member, means for swinging said second section from said fiatwise overlying position to said extended position and reversely upon movement of said platform member from said position within said casing to said extended position and reversely, respectively, and means defining a stop for said closure and platform members in the extended position.

6. Structure according to claim 5 in which said means for swinging said second section comprises a linkage including a U-shaped element of a dimension to receive and embrace the ends of said first and second sections with said second section overlying and fiatwise to said first section, one end of said U-shaped link being pivotally connected to said second section and with the other end thereof pivotally connected to a first rod member, a lever formation carried by said first section and depending therebelow said lever member being pivoted intermediately of its length to swing on an axis parallel to the axes of said pivotal connection of said U-shaped link and first rod member aforementioned, said first rod member being pivotally connected to one end of said lever member, and a second rod member pivotally connected to the other end of said lever member and to said casing at a point ofiset from and below said connection of said first section to said casing, said linkage being operable upon swinging movement of said closure member and associated platform member from said positions closing the open side of and Within the casing respectively, to the extended positions to swing said second section from its overlying flatwise position to the extended position and upon reverse swinging of said closure member and platform member to swing said second section from the extended position to the overlying fiatwise position.

7. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said means defining a stop for said closure and platform members comprises slotted link means connected to and extending between said platform member and casing at at least one side thereof and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the swinging axis of said platform and closure members.

8. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said platform member is provided with a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending groove formations therebeneath, strut means pivotally secured at one end to said casing and having means associated with the other end thereof registering within said longitudinally extending groove formation for sliding movement therealong, stop means located in said groove formation limiting the travel of said strut means when said support structure is located in said extended position and means limiting the displacement of the opposite end of said strut means with said platform member in an extended position whereby said platform member is supported as a cantilever from said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,277,599 Johnson Sept. 3, 1918 1,412,108 Evans Apr. 11,1922 1,632,939 Williams June 21, 1927 1,677,620 Cummings July 17, 1928 1,768,413 Lyth June 24, 1930 2,882,004 Leishman Apr. 14, 1959 

1. IN COMBINATION, A CASING HAVING AN OPEN SIDE, A PLATFORM MEMBER COMPRISED OF AT LEAST A FIRST SECTION WHICH IS CONNECTED TO SAID CASING FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT AND A SECOND SECTION HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST SECTION FOR MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION FLATWISE IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID FIRST SECTION TO AN EXTENDED POSITION IN SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR RELATION THEREWITH, MEANS DEFINING A STOP FOR SAID SECOND SECTION IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION, SAID PLATFORM MEMBER BEING ADAPTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT WITH SAID SECOND SECTION ARRANGED IN FLATWISE OVERLYING RELATION THERETO FROM A POSITION WITHIN SAID CASING, THROUGH SAID OPEN SIDE TO AN EXTENDED POSITION AT SUBSTANTIALLY 90* FROM SAID POSITION WITHIN SAID CASING, A CLOSURE MEMBER FOR THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID CASING, MEANS CONNECTING SAID CLOSURE MEMBER TO SAID CASING FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FLATWISE ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE SWINGING AXIS OF SAID PLATFORM MEMBER AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION FROM A POSITION CLOSING THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID CASING TO AN EXTENDED POSITION AND SPACED IN RELATION TO SAID PLATFORM MEMBER, MEANS DEFINING A STOP FOR SAID CLOSURE AND PLATFORM MEMBERS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION, SAID FIRST SECTION INCLUDING A SUPPORTING FLANGE FORMATION AT THE OUTER END THEREOF TO SEAT SAID SECOND SECTION THEREON IN THE EXTENDED POSITION THEREOF WITH THE ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS IN ABUTTING RELATION, AND LINK MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS AND BRIDGING THE JUNCTURE THEREOF AT OPPOSITE EDGES, SAID LINK MEANS HAVING AN EFFECTIVE LENGTH EXCEEDING THE DEPTH DIMENSIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS, WHEREBY SAID SECOND SECTION CAN BE SWUNG CLEAR OF SAID FIRST SECTION IN MOVING FROM A FLATWISE OVERLYING POSITION TO THE CO-PLANAR EXTENDED POSITION AND REVERSELY. 